Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

SBB is the operator of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which opened in 2016. The approximately 160 employees at the southern operations centre in Pollegio control and monitor the operation of passenger and freight traffic as well as the safety systems and traction power supply in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Stretching for 57 kilometres, it is not only the longest tunnel in the world, but also the deepest: up to 2,300 metres of rock lie above it.

Does the place serve its purpose?

The Gotthard Base Tunnel extends from its northern portal at Erstfeld in the canton of Uri to its southern portal at Bodio in the canton of Ticino. The main tunnel consists of two single-track tubes, 40 metres apart, that are connected by a transverse passage every 325 metres so that passengers can quickly access a secure area in the event of an emergency. If all the connecting and access tunnels and shafts are included, the entire tunnel system measures roughly 152 kilometres. The tunnel reduces the travel time between Zurich and Lugano by half an hour.

Does the place foster sustainable mobility?

Ever since the 1980s, Switzerland has been pursuing a sustainable transportation policy that aims to shift transalpine freight traffic from road to rail. In 1992, construction of the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) was approved by the Swiss electorate with a clear majority. Switzerland thereby committed itself to the protection of the Alpine regions and contributes to sustainable management of the flow of goods in Europe. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is a component of the NRLA.

Are the construction materials and methods durable, require little maintenance, and maintain or even enhance the place’s value?

The total cost for completion was projected to be 12.2 billion Swiss francs and the construction phase lasted 17 years. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is about 30 kilometres shorter than the old Gotthard route across the Alps. Its transport capacity is significantly higher than before: up to 260 cargo trains and 65 passenger trains per day can now travel at a maximum speed of up to 230 kilometres per hour. On the former mountain route, the maximum was 180 cargo trains per day.

Does the place bring different people together?

Seated comfortably in 1st or 2nd class, travellers experience the world’s longest tunnel by sharing a train compartment with strangers. This brings people together, even if interaction often does not ensue. And when travelling with a family or a group, the journey becomes a shared experience. One way or another, as a transalpine link between north and south, the Gotthard Base Tunnel facilitates interchange between different language regions.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

The first design for the Gotthard Base Tunnel dates back to 1961. Since then, plans have been made for routes, tunnel variants, approaches, new structures and new capacity for goods and people – and, time and again, for the financing. The engineers’ plans had to take innumerable uncertainties into account: from the properties of the rock to the refusal of landowners to sacrifice their backyard gardens for the new railway line. The initial blasting for the tunnel took place on 4 November 1999, marking the official start of construction.

Does the place contribute to social cohesion?

The Gotthard is a monument of Swiss and European history. Here, in this place, the diverse interests of transport, economy, military matters and culture converge. The route over or through the Gotthard was and still is the shortest path through Switzerland from north to south. The Gotthard railway is an established monument and a success story. The construction of the base tunnel has written another chapter in the Gotthard transport landscape and brought the north and the south closer together.

Does the place make people feel at ease?

Sitting in the train, it takes 20 minutes to travel through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Since 2016, passengers can now get to their destination faster and have a wider choice of connections within Switzerland and Europe. The beauty lies in knowing that this masterpiece of engineering can be shared as a passenger on the train. Those who are interested in the routing also see the beauty in the straight alignment and the low gradient of this transport axis.